One week following the Big 12 Conference’s decision to rank the Kansas Jayhawks fourth in the 2024 Preseason Poll, their highest preseason placement since the conference moved to a non-divisional format in 2011, EA Sports has identified three players from the team who stand out as potential leaders capable of justifying this ranking.
Devin Neal, the Jayhawks’ running back, has been rated as the game’s 42nd-best player with an overall rating of 92. Neal’s attributes include impressive speed (90), acceleration (93), strength (72), awareness (90), and jumping (87). He ranks seventh among all running backs in the game, sharing his overall rating with Tahj Brooks of Texas Tech.
Neal’s performance on the field substantiates his high rating in the game. Over three seasons and 37 games, he has amassed 3,077 rushing yards on 541 carries, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, and scoring 33 touchdowns. He has consistently ranked in the top tier of Big 12 running backs over the past two seasons.
Cornerback Cobee Bryant is ranked 75th in the game with an overall rating of 90. Bryant boasts impressive attributes including speed (92), acceleration (95), strength (63), awareness (90), and jumping (93). He is recognized as the 10th-best cornerback in the game.
Bryant’s contributions in the past two seasons include 70 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions (including a pick-six), 14 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
Completing the trio is quarterback Jalon Daniels, rated as the 79th-best player in the game with an overall rating of 90. Daniels’ attributes include speed (88), acceleration (90), strength (73), awareness (93), and jumping (85). He is ranked seventh among quarterbacks and shares his overall rating with dual-threat quarterbacks Jalen Milroe (Alabama) and Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss).
Despite missing 11 games due to a back injury last season, Daniels demonstrated his potential in the 2022-23 season by completing 152 of 230 passes (66.1 percent) for 2,014 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He also contributed 425 rushing yards on 77 carries, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, and scoring seven rushing touchdowns.